'Guru Purnima' celebrations across India

New Delhi / Allahabad: Scores of devotees across India thronged various religious places on Tuesday to celebrate the Hindu festival of 'Guru Purnima' and offered prayers for the well being of their gurus or teachers. The followers of Sai Baba converged
at a memorial in New Delhi to offer special prayers on this occasion. They believed
that everyone must abide by certain teachings and avoid discrimination on the
basis of caste, creed and religion. "Today, all the devotees worship the God or
Goddess. They believe in and they try to follow the teachings. Sai Baba always
said that Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians are all one. Till today, nobody
knows what religion Sai Baba belonged to, his caste and where did he finally go.
He has taught us that discrimination is not right and that everyone must spread
love," said Harish, Secretary, Sai Baba Temple , New Delhi . Meanwhile, a similar
sight was witnessed at Allahabad , where devotees queued up for hours to offer
prayers to Sai Baba. According to Hindu beliefs, a guru holds an exalted position,
even higher than that of the God. The day of full moon, Purnima, in the month
of Ashadh of the Hindu calendar is traditionally celebrated as Guru Purnima. While
the entire country celebrates Guru Purnima on the full moon day, the festivities
related to this occasion commenced earlier at Shirdi in Maharashtra . Devotees
from across the country and even abroad thronged the shrine of Sai Baba, the revered
saint and sought his blessings on the auspicious occasion.